For a true western experience, grab your cowboy hat and boots, or at least your appetite, and head to the northeast corner of Indiana. At Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve outside Fremont, buckaroos who yearn for a western-style getaway will find all the trappings of a luxurious dude ranch – a 400-acre working ranch with a herd of 300 bison, trail rides and gracious bed-and-breakfast accommodations in a western-inspired lodge. Or, for those who hunger for just a taste of the Old West, the ranch dishes up all-you-can-eat buffalo-and-noodles dinners on Wednesdays (through Sept. 24, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.).
Bed-and-breakfast guests delight in the pampering and kickback hospitality at Wild Winds, snuggling under downy-soft blankets that drape pine-log beds. They awaken to a hearty full breakfast (featuring a buffalo dish) with the ranch staff. Two guest rooms are tucked in a cabin behind the gift shop and another two are in the preserve's centerpiece, a soaring 4,000-square-foot lodge built of white pine and limestone. It's a rustic yet elegant setting, furnished with Native American and western art and artifacts and deep leather sofas. As guests step inside, they immediately feel right at home, leaving their street shoes at the front door (ranch-house rules, so don't forget to pack slippers.) At night, they might enjoy a hot-tub soak under the stars before cozying up in front of the fire with a book from the 300-volume library.
Wild Winds nestles along the east side of Fish Lake, one of the more than 100 lakes in Steuben County. As its name implies, the lake is a favorite spot among anglers. Along with fishing, getaway guests like to spend their days simply relaxing at the ranch and exploring the rolling countryside along walking trails and on horseback.
Overnight as well as day guests can catch a glimpse, often up close, of Wild Winds' main attraction – the bison – on motorized tours (aboard a pick-up truck fitted with benches) that are offered several times daily. For a memento of your western experience, be sure to stop by the gift shop and browse the fine selection of authentic Native American crafts and wares, plus you'll find buffalo meat in the freezer.
Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve, 6975 N. Ray St., Fremont, 260/495-0137, www.wildwindsbuffalo.com.
Bed-and-breakfast lodging rates: $89-$119. Guided tours: $6, children 8 and under $4. Trail rides (one hour): $18 per person (by reservation only). Buffalo and-noodles dinner: $7, children 8 years and under $4.